Academic Advising Center

Alaska WWAMI Program

Overview

Although Alaska does not have its own medical school, we are part of the Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana and Idaho (WWAMI) program. Students accepted into the WWAMI program pay in-state tuition rates to attend the University of Washington School of Medicine. Students spend part of their time in medical school at the University of Alaska in Anchorage and part of their time at the University of Washington School of Medicine in Seattle. 20 students are accepted into this highly competitive program each year. Students from Alaska compete only amongst each other for these 20 seats.

History and Program Progression

The Alaska WWAMI Program began here at the University of Alaska Fairbanks (as WAMI) in 1971. In 1989 the program moved to the University of Alaska Anchorage and has been housed there ever since.

Students that are interested in the WWAMI must apply to the University of Washington School of Medicine. Once admitted Alaska’s WWAMI students complete their first year of medical school at the University of Alaska Anchorage. This first year includes courses in basic sciences and an introduction to clinical medicine.

The second year of the program students from all WWAMI states are required to do course work for the year at the University of Washington School of Medicine in Seattle. The third and fourth years of the medical school curriculum are comprised of “clerkship” rotations in various medical specialty areas. Students have several choices in terms of the state “track” they choose to do. Those who choose the “Alaska Track” can take nearly all of these “clerkship” rotations in Alaska.